Wire spool spinner

ABSTRACT

A wire spool spinner which holds and dispenses only a single spool of wire typically enables 80% of the wire on a residential building to be dispensed without moving multiple rolls of wire. The wire spool spinner comprises: a base fabricated from two similarly shaped tube portions; and, a spool spindle positioned on and above the base, said spool spindle secured by one and only one end thereof to the base in a generally horizontal position. When a spool of wire is slipped over and onto the unattached end of the spindle then the spool will turn, unrolling the wire, when an end of the wire is pulled. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the spindle slopes so that its unattached end is nominally above its attached end portion. When a spool of wire positioned on the spindle the spool tends to slide down the spindle toward its attached end portion, thereby staying positioned on the spool spinner.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to wire spool spinners used by electricians to dispense wire prior to installation in a building. More particularly this invention relates to a wire spool spinner which is designed to hold a single spool of Romex cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The applicant is an electrical contractor who has wired many commercial and residential buildings. This work most commonly uses one, or maybe two different types of Romex cable. Electricians use wire spool spinners to dispense varying lengths of wires from a roll of wire without twisting the length of wire as it is unwound from the spool. Wire spool spinners commercially available typically hold multiple spools of wire. The problem with these multiple spool spinners is that it is necessary to move a large and heavily loaded spool spinners from room to room and up stairs during use. Use of these multiple spool spinners in residential wiring usually mandates movement of substantially more wire than is needed. What is needed is a wire spool spinner which holds and dispenses only a single spool of wire. This typically enables 80% of the wire to be dispensed without moving multiple rolls of wire which are not immediately needed.

[0003] A single roll wire spool spinner should be of minimal weight, be easily loaded with minimal lifting, and be convenient to lift when loaded.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of this invention to disclose a wire spool spinner which is designed to hold a single roll of wire. It is an object of this invention to disclose a spool spinner which can be loaded with a spool of wire without unlocking prior to loading and locking or otherwise securing the spool of wire on the spinner after it is loaded. It is yet a further object of this invention to disclose a wire spool spinner which can be loaded with minimal lifting by rolling the spool of wire into position thereon. It is a final object of this invention to disclose a wire spool spinner that can be conveniently lifted and moved by a single person when fully loaded.

[0005] One aspect of this invention provides for a wire spool spinner for dispensing wire from a spool comprising: a base; and, a spool spindle positioned on and above the base, said spool spindle secured by one and only one end thereof to the base in a generally horizontal position. Then a spool of wire can be slipped over and onto the unattached end of the spindle and the spool will turn, unrolling the wire, when an end of the wire is pulled.

[0006] In a preferred aspect of the invention the spindle slopes so that its unattached end is nominally above its attached end portion. When a spool of wire positioned on the spindle the spool tends to slide down the spindle toward its attached end portion, thereby staying positioned on the spool spinner.

[0007] Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wire spool spinner loaded with a spool of wire.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view which shows the positioner centrally spacing the spool on the spindle.

[0010] The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific embodiments of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 we have a perspective view of a wire spool spinner 20 loaded with a spool of wire 16. The wire spool spinner 20 for dispensing wire 18 from a spool 16 comprises: a base 22; and, a spool spindle 24 positioned on and above the base 22, said spool spindle 24 secured by one and only one end thereof to the base 22 in a generally horizontal position. When a spool 16 of wire 18 is slipped over and onto the unattached end of the spindle 24 then the spool 16 will turn, unrolling the wire 18, when an end portion of the wire 14 is pulled.

[0012] Most preferably the base 22 is fabricated from two similarly shaped tube portions 26 each have an end portion which bends upwardly and inwardly towards the other tube portion 26. The tube portions 26 then interconnect and attach to and carry the spindle 24. The spindle 24 is attached to and carried centrally between the tube portions 26.

[0013] In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the spindle 24 slopes so that its unattached end portion is nominally above its attached end portion. When a spool of wire 16 positioned on the spindle 24 the spool 16 tends to slide down the spindle 24 toward its attached end portion, thereby staying positioned on the spool spinner 20 without any other retention means. Using a sloped spindle 24 to ensure that the spool 16 is retained on the spindle 24 is most advantageous when loading the spool 16 on the spindle 24. The spool 16 need only be slipped onto the spindle 24 without the need either before or after loading to unlock or lock any other retention means.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a partial cross sectional view which shows the positioner 28 centrally spacing the spool on the spindle 24. The spool positioner 28 is attached to a lower end portion of the spindle to position the spool 16 centrally on the spindle 24. If the spool positioner 28 is spaced from the lower end portion of the spindle 24 lifting the lower end portion of the spindle 24 is facilitated when the spool spinner 20 is fully loaded.

[0015] In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the spindle 24 and the two similarly shaped tube portions 26 are all fabricated from round tube of the same diameter. Three tube caps 30 are employed to cover open end portions of the spindle 24 and tube portions 26. Two spaced plastic feet 32 extend down from each similarly shaped tube portion 26 of the base 22 to prevent slippage. Nail anchoring holes 34 are additionally provided if needed to prevent slippage. One anchoring hole 34 extends through an unattached end portion of each similarly shaped tube portion 26.

[0016] A method of loading a spool of wire 16 onto a spool spinner 20 comprises the following steps: providing a spool spinner 20 having a base 22 fabricated from two similarly shaped tube portions 26 and a spool spindle 24 positioned on and above the base 22 wherein said spool spindle 20 is secured by one and only one end thereof to the base 22 in a generally horizontal position; setting the spool of wire 16 down; inverting the spool spinner 20 and then positioning the spindle 24 axially through spool of wire 16. Finally, rolling the spool 16 and the spool spinner 20 about the spindle 24 until the base 22 is beneath and supporting the spool 16. If the spindle 24 substantially exceeds an axial length of the spool 16 and the spool 16 is positioned and retained centrally on the spindle 24 then the spool spinner 20 can be lifted by lifting opposite end portions of the spindle 24 extending beyond the spool 16.

[0017] It has been found that the wire spinner 20 is most advantageously employed with 1000′ spools 16 of Romex wire 18. In use it is preferable to dispense all of a single guage and type of Romex wire 18 throughout a building before dispensing other guages and types of wire in that same buiding. A full 1000′ spool 16 of wire 18 weighs approximately 70 lbs, a weight which allows a partially full spool to be lifted and carried within the building.

[0018] While the invention has been described with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims. 

I claim: 1) A wire spool spinner for dispensing wire from a spool comprising: a base; and, a spool spindle positioned on and above the base, said spool spindle secured by one and only one end thereof to the base in a generally horizontal position; so that a spool of wire can be slipped over and onto the unattached end of the spindle and the spool will turn, unrolling the wire, when an end of the wire is pulled. 2) A wire spool spinner as in claim 1 wherein the base is fabricated from two similarly shaped tube portions. 3) A wire spool spinner as in claim 2 wherein the tube portions each have an end portion which bends upwardly and inwardly towards the other tube portion. 4) A wire spool spinner as in claim 3 wherein the tube portions which bend together and are interconnected. 5) A wire spool spinner as in claim 4 wherein the spindle is attached to and carried centrally between the tube portions. 6) A wire spool spinner as in claim 5 wherein the spindle slopes so that its unattached end portion is nominally above its attached end portion and so that when a spool of wire is positioned on the spindle the spool tends to slide down the spindle toward the attached end portion of the spindle, thereby staying positioned on the spool spinner without any other retention means. 7) A wire spool spinner as in 6 further comprising a spool positioner attached to a lower end portion of the spindle to position the spool centrally on the spindle. 8) A wire spool spinner as in claim 7 wherein the spool positioner is spaced from the lower end portion of the spindle to facilitate lifting the lower end portion of the spindle when the spool spinner is fully loaded. 9) A wire spool spinner as in claim 6 wherein the spindle and the two similarly shaped tube portions are all fabricated from round tube of the same diameter. 10) A wire spool spinner as in claim 9 further comprising three tube caps which cover the unattached end of the tube portions and unattached end portion of the spindle. 11) A wire spool spinner as in claim 10 further comprising four plastic feet, two spaced feet extend down from each similarly shaped tube portion of the base to prevent slippage. 12) A wire spool spinner as in claim 9 further comprising nail anchoring holes, one extending through an unattached end portion of each similarly shaped tube portion. 13) A method of loading a spool of wire onto a spool spinner comprising the following steps: providing a spool spinner having a base fabricated from two similarly shaped tube portions and a spool spindle positioned on and above the base, said spool spindle secured by one and only one end thereof to the base in a generally horizontal position; setting the spool of wire down; inverting the spool spinner and then positioning the spindle axially through spool of wire; and finally, rolling the spool and the spool spinner about the spindle until the base is beneath and supporting the spool. 14) A method as in claim 13 wherein the spindle substantially exceeds an axial length of the spool and wherein the spool is positioned and retained centrally on the spindle so that the spool spinner can be lifted by lifting opposite end portions of the spindle extending beyond the spool. 